The Liberal Democratic Party’s two-thirds majority victory in last week’s Lower House election means Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has more power to push through legislation than her recent predecessors. But just how powerful is she? According to an article in the latest issue of the British magazine, The Economist, she is “The World’s Most Powerful Woman.” Featuring an image of Takaichi waving in front of Mount Fuji, the article argues that the recent election triumph provided the nation’s first female prime minister with a “historic chance” to transform Japan.
For that to happen, though, Takaichi “needs to think bigger and broader.” It added, “She must be a leader for all of Japan, not only for her rightwing loyalists.” The article praised the 64-year-old politician for the “admirable job” she is doing regarding the relationship she has built with US President Donald Trump. It warned about deteriorating relations with neighboring nations if she visits the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, while urging her to “also recognise that her country has a crucial role to play as a stabilising force in a turbulent world.”
From left to right: Ursula von der Leyen, Christine Lagarde, Sanae Takaichi
Takaichi Ranks Number 3 on Forbes List of World’s 100 Most Powerful Women
The question of who is the world’s most powerful woman is, of course, a subjective one. The most widely cited global ranking of the world’s most powerful women is the Forbes list, published annually in December. The American business magazine uses various criteria such as visibility and economic impact. In 2025, Takaichi ranked number three behind Ursula von der Leyen and Christine Lagarde. The former, who topped the list, is the president of the European Commission, while the latter is the president of the European Central Bank.
